How to Get from An Thoi to Ganh Dau, Phu Quoc: Routes, Time and Cost (2026 Guide)

How Far Is An Thoi from Ganh Dau?

An Thoi, in Phu Quoc's far south, is the island's southern anchor, home to the An Thoi Archipelago, the cable car, and most of the island's dive and snorkel tours. Ganh Dau is the northern opposite: a sleepy fishing commune on the northwest tip, famous for its beach views across to Cambodia, the entrance to VinWonders and the northern national park roads.

The distance between them depends on your exact route and starting point, but figure 60–70 km door to door. The road network funnels almost everything through Duong Dong town in the island's center-west: from An Thoi you drive north up the eastern or central road to Duong Dong (about 25–30 km), then continue north along the northwest coast through Ong Lang, Cua Can and Vung Bau to Ganh Dau (another 30 km or so).

Because the route crosses the whole island, travel time barely changes with your choice of transport, it's mostly a question of money and comfort. The one big exception is weather: in the October–November rainy season, the northern coastal stretch can flood or wash out in places, adding 20–30 minutes.

Option 1: Taxi or Private Car (Fastest, ~1.5 Hours)

A taxi from An Thoi to Ganh Dau covers the 60–70 km in about 1.5 hours and typically costs 700,000–900,000 VND ($28–$36) one way, depending on the operator and your negotiation. Mai Linh and Vinasun operate meters on the island; ride-hailing via Grab or Xanh SM is also widely available in An Thoi and Duong Dong, though driver availability in Ganh Dau itself is thin, so arrange your return in advance or book a round trip.

A private car with driver booked for a half day (about 4–5 hours) usually runs 900,000–1,200,000 VND ($36–$48) and lets you stop at Phu Quoc National Park viewpoints, Pepper farms or Rach Vem's stilt houses on the way. This is the sensible choice for families with small children, travelers with luggage heading to a Ganh Dau hotel such as the Sheraton Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort in Bai Dai, or anyone arriving off a morning boat at An Thoi pier.

Who this suits: couples, families, and anyone short on time. Who it's a poor fit for: budget travelers, solo backpackers, and anyone who wants to explore freely once in Ganh Dau, the village is spread out and walking between the beach, the market and the restaurants is not practical on foot.

Option 2: Motorbike (Most Flexible, ~2 Hours Each Way)

Renting a motorbike in Phu Quoc costs roughly 120,000–200,000 VND ($5–$8) per day for a semi-automatic or manual 110–150cc bike, and it is by far the most rewarding way to do this route. The full An Thoi to Ganh Dau ride takes about 2 hours each way at a comfortable pace, longer with photo stops, so plan it as a full-day loop.

The classic route: leave An Thoi in the morning, ride north on the coastal road past Sao Beach turn-offs and up through the center of the island to Duong Dong (about 1 hour). Refuel and grab coffee, then take the northern coastal road through Ong Lang, Cua Can, Vung Bau and Dai Beach to Ganh Dau, about another hour on quieter, greener roads inside the national park fringe.

Fuel is cheap and available at stations in An Thoi, Duong Dong and small roadside bottle stalls in the north, top up before leaving Duong Dong because the northern stretch is sparse. Wear the helmet, carry your license, and note that police checks are common on the main roads. If you're not confident riding in Vietnamese traffic, this route's length and occasional potholes make it a poor fit, stick to a car instead.

Option 3: Public Bus (Cheapest, ~2.5–3 Hours)

Phu Quoc's public bus network connects An Thoi and Duong Dong, with onward routes toward the north of the island. From An Thoi, catch a bus to Duong Dong bus station (about 45–60 minutes, fares around 20,000–50,000 VND), then transfer to the northern route heading through Cua Can to Ganh Dau. Total cost stays under 100,000 VND ($4), total time 2.5–3 hours including the transfer and waiting.

Buses run roughly every 20–40 minutes on the main routes during daylight, thinning out in the evening, so don't plan a return after dark. This option suits long-stay budget travelers and anyone comfortable with slow travel and Vietnamese-language bus stops. It's a poor fit if you have luggage, are on a tight schedule, or want to reach Ganh Dau's beaches before mid-morning crowds, the connections simply don't line up that fast.

What to Do Once You Reach Ganh Dau

Ganh Dau's headline attraction is simple: a quiet, curving bay with Cambodia visible across the water on clear days, and a fishing village that still works boats out of the shallows. The beach is free, backed by casuarina trees, and far less developed than the Bai Dai stretch further south where the big resorts sit.

For families and theme-park fans, the VinWonders complex and its aquarium area anchor the northern coast, and Deep Sea Restaurant inside the aquarium area opens daily 10:00 AM–5:30 PM if you want a sit-down meal without leaving the park. Near Bai Dai, Daily Social at the Sheraton Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort serves breakfast and brunch daily from 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM, a useful stop if you're staying in the area or passing through early.

Nature lovers should add the northern roads of Phu Quoc National Park, where the road from Cua Can climbs through protected forest, and consider Rach Vem's famous stilt-fishing-village detour. Photographers get the best light on the northwest coast between 4 and 6 PM, when the low sun drops over the Gulf of Thailand.

Where to Eat in Ganh Dau: From $3 Street Food to Seafood Feasts

For such a small village, Ganh Dau eats well above its weight. The heart of it all is Ganh Dau Market in Suoi Cai Village, open 6:30 am to 9:30 pm daily, where vendors sell fresh fish, clams, squid and crab straight off local boats alongside Phu Quoc street food. A small seafood market nearby sells fresh fish, shrimp and crabs, and many visitors buy their catch and have it cooked at the market or at one of the rustic eateries next door for a small per-kilo fee.

Street vendors and informal food stalls roll out during meal times at Ganh Dau's main intersections, serving good, fresh, cheap local dishes, this is where the $2.7–$3.8 bowls live. For sit-down seafood, here's how the village's restaurants compare:

Across the island, a typical seafood dish at a mid-range Phu Quoc restaurant runs 35,000–295,000 VND per dish, so a group feast with crab, grilled fish and squid usually lands between $10 and $25 per head including drinks. Sunset Story is the go-to if you're cooking for Korean palates, while Ganh Ca Seafood sits at the premium end of the village's price ladder.

If you're staying late, Grand World Food Street, on the northern side of the island near the VinWonders area, operates overnight and serves a wide variety of local delicacies and snacks, a good late-night fallback after a Ganh Dau sunset. Note that Ganh Dau's restaurant listings on TripAdvisor were last updated in April 2026, so double-check hours by phone before making a long detour, small village kitchens open and close with the seasons.

Best Time of Day and Season to Make the Trip

Leave An Thoi by 8 AM. That puts you in Ganh Dau before the midday heat, gives you a full beach afternoon, and leaves time for a sunset dinner at Bien Phuc Ngan or Gio Bien before the 2-hour ride back. Morning is also when Ganh Dau Market is at its freshest, with the day's catch arriving from 6:30 am onward.

Season matters more than hour. Phu Quoc's dry season, roughly November to April, is ideal: calm seas on the west coast, dry roads, and clear water views toward Cambodia. From May to October, the southwest monsoon brings afternoon downpours and rougher seas to the northwest beaches, so build slack into the schedule and check the forecast before riding the national park roads.

If you're combining the trip with An Thoi island-hopping, don't stack them on one day. The snorkel boats return to An Thoi pier around 4–5 PM, and starting a 60–70 km ride after that means arriving in Ganh Dau after dark, which the northern roads do not forgive.